TN Boone & Crockett Deer kill

[landman]

Did you see were TN is up 150% in B&C Deer.
2000-2009, had 25 B&C Deer
1990-1999, had 10 B&C Deer
150% Increase......What is the cause of the increase?????



Oh by the way KY only had a 62.5% increase for same period
2000-2009, only 312 B&C Deer
1990-1999, had 192 B&C Deer

And I do still have land for sale in Western KY, for several clients, we sold a 300 acre tract today for $900 per acre(Livingston County)

 

[deerchaser007]

What caused the increase you ask,.. hunters being more selective now more than ever and unit L has really helped were implemented.

 

[BSK]

Improved buck age structure over the last decade and as deerchaser007 stated, hunters becoming more selective (one of the primary reasons the buck age structure has improved).

 

[W.Seay]

I know a few people that have killed multiple bucks (6) easily making B&C but nobody will ever know because these guys will never enter their bucks!

 

[Football Hunter]

Did you see were TN is up 150% in B&C Deer.
2000-2009, had 25 B&C Deer
1990-1999, had 10 B&C Deer
150% Increase......What is the cause of the increase?????



Oh by the way KY only had a 62.5% increase for same period
2000-2009, only 312 B&C Deer
1990-1999, had 192 B&C Deer

And I do still have land for sale in Western KY, for several clients, we sold a 300 acre tract today for $900 per acre(Livingston County)

Wow,thats great,but look at the difference,amazing for neighboring states

 

[Winchester]

I know a few people that have killed multiple bucks (6) easily making B&C but nobody will ever know because these guys will never enter their bucks!

Yes sir this happens in most every state!

 

[TheLBLman]

I know a few people that have killed multiple bucks (6) easily making B&C but nobody will ever know because these guys will never enter their bucks!

Yes sir this happens in most every state!

I believe this happens more in KY than TN.

 

[BowGuy84]

I know a few people that have killed multiple bucks (6) easily making B&C but nobody will ever know because these guys will never enter their bucks!

Yes sir this happens in most every state!

I believe this happens more in KY than TN.

I agree as well. The average size of what is considered a good buck is so much higher that it leads to a lot of above average deer that push BC being labled as just above average deer.

 

[BSK]

Wow,thats great,but look at the difference,amazing for neighboring states

It is amazing how much of a difference habitat makes.

 

[landman]

All of these are some of the things I was thinking about, just wanted to hear some other people.

But, what about the 1 Buck Limit?

BSK your thinking?

I know it has keep me for years in killing bucks, wonder what they grew up to be? Cause if I could have killed 2, several of them I would have shot in the past, but at this time I wouldn't.

 

[mathews338]

Wow,thats great,but look at the difference,amazing for neighboring states

It is amazing how much of a difference habitat makes.

not saying your wrong but i can't see that big a difference in habitat and i have drove all over both states and hunted as well, so what exactly am i overlooking
i know that soil has been talked about over and over and MAYBE that's the difference in the western half of KY but the eastern half has horrible soil

 

[BSK]

But, what about the 1 Buck Limit?

BSK your thinking?

In theory, KY's 1 buck limit should be producing an older buck age structure than TN. Based on each state's estimates, the two states have similar pre-hunt deer populations, and since KY hunters kill far less total bucks during the season (and have for years), that should leave more bucks to advance in age.

However, there is no real data for standing age structure in either state. And curiously, the harvest data for each state clearly indicates TN hunters kill far more 3 1/2+ year-old bucks than KY hunters do.

So why the huge difference in number of record-book bucks? Most likely significant differences in habitat quality, although again, no large-scale study has been attempted looking at average antler development per age-class in either state. A study of that kind would answer a lot of questions.

 

[TheLBLman]

. . . . . the harvest data for each state clearly indicates TN hunters kill far more 3 1/2+ year-old bucks than KY hunters do.

Which clearly indicates KY hunters are treated to being able to hunt where there are far more 4 1/2+ year-old bucks than TN hunters. :)
With our long gun seasons and 3-buck limit, yes, it's easier to take out more of the 3 1/2's in TN. In turn, there are less 4 1/2 and older bucks in TN.

 

[BSK]

. . . . . the harvest data for each state clearly indicates TN hunters kill far more 3 1/2+ year-old bucks than KY hunters do.

Which clearly indicates KY hunters are treated to being able to hunt where there are far more 4 1/2+ year-old bucks than TN hunters. :)
With our long gun seasons and 3-buck limit, yes, it's easier to take out more of the 3 1/2's in TN. In turn, there are less 4 1/2 and older bucks in TN.

That doesn't appear to be the case Wes.

 

[TheLBLman]

. . . . there is no real data for standing age structure in either state.

We'll just have to agree to disagree on our opinions, as I believe a greater percentage of the KY herd male deer is 4 1/2 or older than the TN herd. I also believe this difference has been becoming less over the past few years, i.e. TN has been making improvements on herd health faster than KY.

 

[tndad]

I know a few people that have killed multiple bucks (6) easily making B&C but nobody will ever know because these guys will never enter their bucks!

agree- my brother in law has 4 at least

 

[Winchester]

. . . . there is no real data for standing age structure in either state.

We'll just have to agree to disagree on our opinions, as I believe a greater percentage of the KY herd male deer is 4 1/2 or older than the TN herd. I also believe this difference has been becoming less over the past few years, i.e. TN has been making improvements on herd health faster than KY.

I will have to agree with Wes here, KY has more 4 1/2 plus bucks in the herd, but KY bucks also average more antler per age class than do TN bucks, putting more 3 1/2's in the larger antler bracket there as well. I think KY has us beat both ways, more older age class bucks in the herd, 4 1/2 plus, and larger antlers per age class bucks, due to superior habitat/resources across much of the state.

agree- my brother in law has 4 at least

Thats awesome, show us some pics, as this a world class accomplishment for any hunter in any state in the u.s, let alone TN!

 

[BSK]

Re: TN Boone & Crockett Deer kill

. . . . there is no real data for standing age structure in either state.

We'll just have to agree to disagree on our opinions, as I believe a greater percentage of the KY herd male deer is 4 1/2 or older than the TN herd. I also believe this difference has been becoming less over the past few years, i.e. TN has been making improvements on herd health faster than KY.

We aren't disagree over anything. In theory, KY should have a higher percentage of mature bucks in the herd than TN does. However, there is no real data showing if that is correct. All we do know is TN hunters kill more mature bucks than KY hunters do, and if I remember the data correctly, by a wide margin.

 

[TheLBLman]

All we do know is TN hunters kill more mature bucks than KY hunters do . . . .

And we go back to, well, it DEPENDS on how you define MATURE! :)

A few years ago I was somewhat taken back when TWRA made the claim that "TN kills more OLDER bucks than KY." Then I found out that they were defining OLDER as any buck 2 1/2, or older.

I was once taught that a MATURE buck was one that was 4 1/2 or older. I believe TWRA is defining a mature buck as a 3 1/2-yr-old.

Despite a lack of hard data, the antidotal evidence that KY has more 4 1/2 or older bucks LIVING and walking around at the beginning of each fall is pretty strong, especially among avid deer hunters who hunt both states.

 

[TheLBLman]

Hey, when I was twenty, a 30-yr-old woman was a MATURE one!
Now those 30-yr-old girls are just too young and immature. ;)
Everything just DEPENDS.

 

[BigGameGuy]

Re: TN Boone & Crockett Deer kill

A few years ago I was somewhat taken back when TWRA made the claim that "TN kills more OLDER bucks than KY." Then I found out that they were defining OLDER as any buck 2 1/2, or older.

I was once taught that a MATURE buck was one that was 4 1/2 or older. I believe TWRA is defining a mature buck as a 3 1/2-yr-old.

Wes,

Here is the KY data that we used to make the comparisons.

I agree with you that there are probably more older aged class bucks in KY walking around than in TN. But they certainly aren't showing up in the harvest. Many regions of TN outperfom KY in harvest stats...yes, even going up to 4-1/2 years of age.

So does that take you aback? :grin:

 

[TheLBLman]

I agree with you that there are probably more older aged class bucks in KY walking around than in TN.

THAT does! :grin:

 

[megalomaniac]

I agree with you that there are probably more older aged class bucks in KY walking around than in TN.

THAT does! :grin:

You guys are cracking me up, LOL

Wes, honestly you were one of the main people who convinced me it was possible to hunt only mature bucks in TN.

Unfortunatley, I now realize that they do not exist in huntable numbers on average sized tracts in TN. It's not TWRA's fault, it's not my neighbor's fault, it's not my own fault... they just don't live that long (in huntable numbers.. ie, one could reasonably expect to kill one each year).

So I'm giving up and going back to 3.5 yr olds... not that I'm really excited about killing them, but I am getting tired of all of the 3.5 yr olds I pass up being killed on neighboring properties. Besides, my boy will be 6 this year, and he'll be H$!! on the 2.5 yr olds and up. And TN is covered up with 2.5 yr olds :)

 

[BSK]

...it was possible to hunt only mature bucks in TN.

Unfortunatley, I now realize that they do not exist in huntable numbers on average sized tracts in TN.... they just don't live that long (in huntable numbers.. ie, one could reasonably expect to kill one each year).

In some areas, I bet you're absolutely right mega.

In my area they exist in huntable numbers, but I don't exclusively hunt them because they're too darn hard to kill! I prefer to kill a buck more frequently than I can kill a mature buck.

So I'm giving up and going back to 3.5 yr olds...

By hunting 3 1/2 year-olds, I'm going to kill a buck more frequently and a mature buck will go down from time to time.

And TN is covered up with 2.5 yr olds :)

It is pretty shocking how many 2 1/2 year-olds are out there these days. And I remember when they were a rarity. How far we've come...

 

[Football Hunter]

Isnt saying we have more "mature"bucks kind of like the football team that never wins saying,"yeah ,but we graduate more of ours"?

 

[DWM]

I know a few people that have killed multiple bucks (6) easily making B&C but nobody will ever know because these guys will never enter their bucks!

agree- my brother in law has 4 at least

And that will happen in all states that have deer hunting.

 

[Football Hunter]

I know a few people that have killed multiple bucks (6) easily making B&C but nobody will ever know because these guys will never enter their bucks!

agree- my brother in law has 4 at least

And that will happen in all states that have deer hunting.

agreed

 

[TheLBLman]

Re: TN Boone & Crockett Deer kill

It is pretty shocking how many 2 1/2 year-olds are out there these days. And I remember when they were a rarity. How far we've come...

But by reversing the trend, we could easily plummet the number of 3 1/2's simply by shooting a lot more 2 1/2's. Wouldn't take long.

I'm having no trouble finding "mature" bucks.
Just disappointed in what appears to be a lot of antler high-grading, i.e. a majority of the 5 1/2-yr-old bucks seem to have lower-scoring antlers than most of the 3 1/2-yr-olds (in the same area) being killed.

Lots of hunters are voluntarily passing up average and below average antlered yearlings, 2 1/2's and some average & below average 3 1/2's. Unfortunately, this is leaving mainly the below average antlered as the main survivors to move into the "mature" buck age categories.

 

[Mr.Bro]

I REALLY want to see pics of this guy with 4 B&Cs from Tennessee.

 

[NEXTLEVELHUNTING]

me too and where did he kill them